Week 3 didn't bring any big upsets, as the only ranked teams to lose (No. 20 Arizona and No. 24 Boston College) fell to teams ranked higher than them (No. 14 Kansas State and No. 6 Missouri, respectively).
But all wins are not created equal, as we saw when No. 1 Georgia narrowly avoided defeat with a 1-point win at Kentucky.
How did it all impact our playoff and bowl projections?
In the new, expanded 12-team playoff, the five highest-ranked conference champions will make the field along with the next seven highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will be awarded first-round byes, with the other eight teams meeting at the campus sites of Seeds 5 through 8.
From there, the quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in what had been the New Year's Six bowls, with this season's national championship game scheduled for Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
All of that is just the tip of the iceberg, though. Apart from the playoff is the 36-game slate of bowl games, from the Cricket Celebration Bowl on Dec. 14 to the Bahamas Bowl on Jan. 4.
We're here for all of it.
ESPN bowl gurus Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach are projecting every postseason matchup, including their breakdowns of how the CFP will play out, every week until the actual matchups are set on Selection Day on Dec. 8.
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Playoff picks | Quarterfinals
Semis, title game | Bowl season
College Football Playoff
First-round games
Dec. 20-21 -- ABC/ESPN or TNT Sports*
Bonagura: No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia
Schlabach: No. 12 Memphis at No. 5 Georgia
Bonagura: No. 11 Kansas State at No. 6 Alabama
Schlabach: No. 11 Oregon at No. 6 Alabama
Bonagura: No. 10 Oregon at No. 7 Tennessee
Schlabach: No. 10 USC at No. 7 Tennessee
Bonagura: No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 USC
Schlabach: No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 8 Penn State
* Specific times and networks for each game TBD
First-round breakdown
Bonagura: These projections can be a bit misleading because with so few conference games in the books, there isn't an effective way to really gauge how a lot of these teams match up. Consider this more of a snapshot in time, with the understanding that in a few weeks there will be a lot of movement. The obvious change here is that Georgia fell from the No. 1 line after it squeaked by Kentucky, passed by the well-oiled machine that is Texas. The Big 12 has two teams in again -- Utah and Kansas State -- which feels like where things will eventually settle, with the question being, which two?
Schlabach: Texas is now my No. 1 seed and SEC champion after Georgia's closer-than-expected SEC road opener at Kentucky. The Bulldogs are still one of the best four teams in the country, but they'll be the No. 5 seed if they don't win the SEC title. To be honest, hosting AAC champion Memphis in the first round, then playing No. 4 Kansas State in the quarterfinals isn't that difficult of a path to the semifinals. I have five SEC teams and four Big Ten squads in my top 12 for now. They're going to start knocking each other off before too long. I also considered Oklahoma State, Utah, Clemson and Missouri for at-large spots. Boise State, Liberty and Texas State were other considerations for the Group of 5 champion selection.
CFP quarterfinals
Tuesday, Dec. 31
CFP quarterfinals at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl
State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Arizona)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Utah
Schlabach: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 4 Kansas State
Wednesday, Jan. 1
CFP quarterfinals at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
1 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 3 Miami
Schlabach: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 3 Miami
CFP quarterfinals at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, California)
5 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 7 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 7 Tennessee vs. No. 2 Ohio State
CFP quarterfinals at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
8:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 8 USC vs. No. 1 Texas
Schlabach: No. 8 Penn State vs. No. 1 Texas
Quarterfinals breakdown
Bonagura: If we're being honest, a Texas-USC game should be played at the Rose Bowl, not in New Orleans, given the history. Either way, that would be by far the most compelling matchup this round. With the first-round games on campuses, the quarterfinals might end up being the most sterile round because there figures to be some mismatches that won't be as compelling at neutral sites that far removed for the national championship game.
Schlabach: I had the four home teams -- No. 5 Georgia, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Tennessee and No. 8 Penn State -- advancing out of the quarterfinals. Chances are at least one of them would be upset, even playing at home. Georgia would have to make a long trip to play Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. Tennessee's trip would be even longer to play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Miami-Alabama and Penn State-Texas would rekindle some fun times from the 1980s and '90s.
CFP semifinals, national championship game
Thursday, Jan. 9
CFP semifinals at the Capital One Orange Bowl
Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, Florida)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas
Schlabach: No. 5 Georgia vs. No. 1 Texas
Friday, Jan. 10
CFP semifinals at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Schlabach: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 2 Ohio State
Monday, Jan. 20
CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 1 Texas
Schlabach: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 5 Georgia
National championship breakdown
Bonagura: Again, I'm calling for reseeding in the College Football Playoff. The way things look right now, to get to the championship game, the No. 2 seed (in this case, Ohio State) probably has an easier road than the No. 1 seed (Texas) and the No. 6 seed (Alabama) has an easier road than the No. 5 (Georgia). It's a flawed format that is easily correctable.
Schlabach: I'm going to give Georgia a mulligan for its ugly 13-12 victory at Kentucky. The Bulldogs seem to struggle in their SEC opener each season before turning things around. They'll have to with road trips to Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss remaining on the schedule. I was much more impressed with the Crimson Tide in their 42-10 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday. Ohio State and Georgia have been my top two teams throughout the preseason and first three weeks, and I'm not ready to change my mind yet.
Complete bowl season schedule
Saturday, Dec. 14
Cricket Celebration Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: Florida A&M vs. NC Central
Schlabach: Florida A&M vs. NC Central
Camellia Bowl
Cramton Bowl (Montgomery, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: East Carolina vs. Eastern Michigan
Schlabach: Ohio vs. Coastal Carolina
Tuesday, Dec. 17
Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl
Toyota Stadium (Frisco, Texas)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Colorado State vs. UTSA
Schlabach: Georgia State vs. North Texas
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Boca Raton Bowl
FAU Stadium (Boca Raton, Florida)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Coastal Carolina vs. Navy
Schlabach: Buffalo vs. East Carolina
LA Bowl
SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Washington vs. Boise State
Schlabach: California vs. Boise State
Thursday, Dec. 19
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
7 p.m., ESPN2
Bonagura: Liberty vs. Texas State
Schlabach: Liberty vs. Appalachian State
Friday, Dec. 20
StaffDNA Cure Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: James Madison vs. Miami (Ohio)
Schlabach: Louisiana vs. UTSA
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Pittsburgh vs. Baylor
Schlabach: Boston College vs. James Madison
Monday, Dec. 23
Myrtle Beach Bowl
Brooks Stadium (Conway, South Carolina)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Louisiana vs. Florida Atlantic
Schlabach: Marshall vs. Middle Tennessee
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Albertsons Stadium (Boise, Idaho)
2:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Toledo vs. Nevada
Schlabach: Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
Tuesday, Dec. 24
Hawai'i Bowl
Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex (Honolulu)
8 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Sam Houston vs. Air Force
Schlabach: Western Kentucky vs. Colorado State
Thursday, Dec. 26
Detroit Bowl
Ford Field (Detroit)
2 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Northern Illinois vs. Maryland
Schlabach: Toledo vs. Michigan State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl
Chase Field (Phoenix)
5:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Illinois vs. BYU
Schlabach: Maryland vs. Texas Tech
68 Ventures Bowl
Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, Alabama)
9 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Ohio vs. Marshall
Schlabach: San José State vs. Georgia Southern
Friday, Dec. 27
Birmingham Bowl
Protective Stadium (Birmingham, Alabama)
Noon or 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kentucky vs. Rutgers
Schlabach: Virginia Tech vs. Baylor
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, Texas)
Noon or 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Georgia Tech vs. Army
Schlabach: SMU vs. Army
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (Memphis, Tennessee)
7 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: TCU vs. Arkansas
Schlabach: UCF vs. South Carolina
DirecTV Holiday Bowl
Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego)
8 p.m.
Bonagura: Clemson vs. California
Schlabach: Notre Dame vs. Arizona
SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas)
10:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: South Carolina vs. Arizona
Schlabach: Auburn vs. Oregon State
Saturday, Dec. 28
Wasabi Fenway Bowl
Fenway Park (Boston)
11 a.m., ESPN
Bonagura: South Florida vs. Syracuse
Schlabach: Tulane vs. Pittsburgh
Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, New York)
Noon, ABC
Bonagura: North Carolina vs. Iowa
Schlabach: Syracuse vs. Illinois
Isleta New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
2:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Fresno State vs. North Texas
Schlabach: Air Force vs. Texas State
Pop-Tarts Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Louisville vs. UCF
Schlabach: Clemson vs. Oklahoma State
Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium (Tucson, Arizona)
4:30 p.m., CW Network
Bonagura: Buffalo vs. San José State
Schlabach: Bowling Green vs. UNLV
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (Annapolis, Maryland)
5:45 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: NC State vs. Tulane
Schlabach: North Carolina vs. South Florida
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome (San Antonio)
7:30 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Washington State vs. Oklahoma State
Schlabach: Washington State vs. Utah
Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl
Independence Stadium (Shreveport, Louisiana)
9:15 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Kansas vs. Oregon State
Schlabach: Arizona State vs. Indiana
Monday, Dec. 30
TransPerfect Music City Bowl
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, Tennessee)
2:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Nebraska vs. LSU
Schlabach: Iowa vs. Kentucky
Tuesday, Dec. 31
ReliaQuest Bowl
Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Florida)
Noon, ESPN
Bonagura: Michigan vs. Auburn
Schlabach: Nebraska vs. Oklahoma
Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl Stadium (El Paso, Texas)
2 p.m., CBS
Bonagura: SMU vs. Arizona State
Schlabach: Georgia Tech vs. Washington
Cheez-It Citrus Bowl
Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Florida)
3 p.m., ABC
Bonagura: Penn State vs. Missouri
Schlabach: Michigan vs. Missouri
Texas Bowl
NRG Stadium (Houston)
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Iowa State vs. Oklahoma
Schlabach: Iowa State vs. LSU
Thursday, Jan. 2
TaxSlayer Gator Bowl
EverBank Stadium (Jacksonville, Florida)
7:30 p.m. ESPN
Bonagura: Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M
Schlabach: Louisville vs. Texas A&M
Friday, Jan. 3
SERVPRO First Responder Bowl
Gerald J. Ford Stadium (Dallas)
4 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Texas Tech vs. UNLV
Schlabach: BYU vs. Duke
Duke's Mayo Bowl
Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, North Carolina)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
Bonagura: Boston College vs. Indiana
Schlabach: NC State vs. Rutgers
Saturday, Jan. 4
Bahamas Bowl
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Nassau, Bahamas)
11 a.m., ESPN2
Bonagura: Western Kentucky vs. Bowling Green
Schlabach: Sam Houston vs. Miami (Ohio)